I DON’T want to go. Those are the words of Romsey Town Hall’s manger, Glyn Darby, who is being forced to leave the post at the end of the month because he will be 65 on October 31.

The popular manager said he would have liked to stay on until next May’s local elections.

However, Romsey Town Council says Mr Darby has to go this month and now he is considering taking the authority to an employment tribunal.

The move comes just after the Work and Pensions secretary, Iain Duncan-Smith, announced plans to raise the retirement age to 66.

Mr Darby, who signed a new open-ended job share contract last November, said he was shocked at the council’s decision. “No mention was made at the time that I would not be permitted to remain in my post until October of the following year and it would have been very doubtful that I would have signed the new contract if I had known it was only for a 12-month period.”

Glyn said he would miss his job at the town hall.

He added: “I am annoyed that I have got to go. I consider myself too young to retire and I will be seeking employment elsewhere. I don’t think the council has done anything illegal, but you have to bear in mind the new government’s policy on retirement age. I am looking at the possibility of taking Romsey Town Council to an employment tribunal.”

Town clerk, Judith Giles, said all the correct procedures had been adhered to by the council.

Mrs Giles said: “Romsey Town Council’s policy is to retire staff at the statutory retirement age 65. Mr Darby was offered work on a casual basis once he retired, but he declined.”

Legislation introduced in 2006 requires an employer to consider all requests from an employee to work on past retirement age and to respond within a set time limit. However, they are not required to keep anyone after the statutory retirment age.